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A brief historical overview
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The European shorthair is descended from the common cats of Europe and is considered a natural breed. Numerous books describe its origins as far back as the cats of ancient Egypt, and trace the history of the cat in Europe.
Some cat skeletons dating back to the Iron Age have been found in Toulouse, Lutetia and England. Much appreciated by the Romans in the 1st century B.C., the cat's expansion into European homes was greatly accelerated by Julius Caesar's conquests, which spread the cat throughout Europe. During Antiquity, the cat was used as a ratter, but the Catholic Church tarnished its reputation by turning it into a companion of the devil and witches from the 12th century onwards. The cat's reputation gradually improved from the end of the 16th century, when the concept of a breed was introduced.
The European shorthair is one of the most popular short-haired breeds in Finland and the Nordic countries in general, where its character as a natural breed never polluted by another cat breed is appreciated. It is having difficulty winning over other European countries. Since 2003, an average of ten pedigrees have been issued each year in France by the Livre officiel des origines félines (LOOF), representing 0.06% of pedigrees issued by LOOF between 2003 and 2011 (no requests in 2011).
Anglo-Saxon countries, which are very active in cat breeding, are completely ignoring the breed. Disaffection in the United States and the United Kingdom is due to competition from these countries' natural breeds, the American shorthair and British shorthair respectively. The major American (TICA and CFA) and British (GCCF) federations do not recognize the European shorthair as a breed.
The breed's low popularity is linked to the fact that it doesn't have any outstanding characteristics and doesn't bring anything new to the table. Another major problem is the systematic confusion of the European Shorthair with the Alley Cat, as there are many Alley Cats in Europe with all the characteristics (morphology, character, health) of the European Shorthair. In common parlance, the term “European” has become synonymous with “Alley cat” or “House cat”. Desmond Morris notes two erroneous definitions of the European shorthair. One, specific to general books on cat history, describes the European shorthair as a short-haired alley cat living in European homes; the other, specific to British books on cat breeds, describes the European shorthair as a Continental European British shorthair. |
General appearance
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| The breed has evolved over time, with no human intervention to “construct” its character and physiognomy. It is a rustic cat that should not resemble any other breed. Good breeding stock bears no resemblance to any existing breed, and must retain the “robust and supple” character of the European domestic cat. Resemblance to a breed is considered an eliminatory defect at shows. Some Alley Cats bear a striking resemblance to the European Shorthair; however, careful observation based on the criteria described in the standards enables us to differentiate between them. |
Behavior / characteristics
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Temperament is above all a function of each cat's history. Character traits are not described in the standards, but are personality traits generally observed in the breed.
The European shorthair is described as an independent cat that doesn't demand a lot of attention, but knows how to remain affectionate and sociable with both humans and other animals. Its character is balanced, neither too talkative nor too quiet. Its hunting and climbing skills are emphasized, as is its hardiness. They are described as intelligent, astute and highly adaptable. The European shorthair would suit a family or single cat lover with an affectionate, independent character. |
Health
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| Longevity is estimated at twelve years or more. The European Shorthair is a robust, low-maintenance cat. Its coat should be brushed once a week. Breeding this breed is easy, with the mother taking good care of the kittens. |
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English (United Kingdom)